Surgical forceps

ABSTRACT

A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation relative to one another. One (or both) of the jaw members is moveable with respect to the other from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. A knife is longitudinally translatable with respect to the first and second jaw members between a retracted position, an intermediate position, and an extended position. The knife coupled to one or both of the jaw members via a pin-slot engagement such that, upon translation of the knife from the retracted position to the intermediate position, the first and second jaw members are moved to the approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween and such that, upon translation of the knife from the intermediate position to the extended position, the knife is extended between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween.

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/102,573, filed on May 6, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a surgical forceps, and more particularly, to an electrosurgical forceps capable of sealing and cutting tissue.

2. Background of Related Art

A forceps is a plier-like instrument that relies on mechanical action between its jaws to grasp, clamp and constrict vessels or tissue. Electrosurgical forceps utilize both mechanical clamping action and electrical energy to affect hemostasis by heating tissue and blood vessels to coagulate and/or cauterize tissue. Certain surgical procedures require more than simply cauterizing tissue and rely on the unique combination of clamping pressure, precise electrosurgical energy control and gap distance (i.e., distance between opposing jaw members when closed about tissue) to “seal” tissue, vessels and certain vascular bundles.

Typically, once a vessel is sealed, the surgeon has to accurately sever the vessel along the newly formed tissue seal. Accordingly, many vessel sealing instruments have been designed that incorporate a knife or blade member that effectively severs the tissue after forming a tissue seal. Many of such instruments require the surgeon to actuate a first trigger to grasp tissue between the jaw members, e.g., to perform the sealing operation, and then to actuate a second trigger once the tissue seal has been formed, to advance the knife through tissue to sever the newly formed tissue seal.

It would therefore be advantageous to develop an instrument that reduces the number of steps required to grasp, seal, and cut tissue. For example, commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,628,791 to Garrison et al., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses a single-action tissue sealer capable of grasping, sealing and cutting tissue in a single action.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure, a forceps is provided. The forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation relative to one another. One (or both) of the jaw members is moveable with respect to the other from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. A knife is longitudinally translatable with respect to the first and second jaw members between a retracted position, an intermediate position, and an extended position. The knife is coupled to one (or both) of the jaw members via a pin-slot engagement such that, upon translation of the knife from the retracted position to the intermediate position, the first and second jaw members are moved to the approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween and such that, upon translation of the knife from the intermediate position to the extended position, the knife is extended between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween.

In one embodiment, each of the first and second jaw members includes an opposed electrically conductive tissue sealing surface adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to communicate energy to tissue grasped between the jaw members.

In another embodiment, one (or both) of the first and second jaw members includes a knife channel defined therein. The knife channel(s) is configured to permit reciprocation of the knife therethrough. The knife channel(s) may define a T-shaped longitudinal cross-sectional configuration or an L-shaped longitudinal cross-sectional configuration. Further, the knife may define a longitudinal cross-sectional configuration complementary to longitudinal cross-sectional configuration of the knife channel(s).

In yet another embodiment, the knife includes a slot defined therein and wherein one of the jaw members, e.g., the first jaw member, includes a pin engaged within the slot. The slot defined within the knife is configured such that, when the knife is translated from the retracted position to the intermediate position, the first and second jaw members are moved from the spaced-apart position to the approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween. The slot may further be configured such that, upon translation of the knife from the intermediate position to the extended position, the knife is extended between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween.

Alternatively, the knife may include a pin engaged thereon in transverse relation relative thereto and the first and second jaw members may each include a slot defined therethrough. In such an embodiment, the slots are configured such that, when the knife is translated from the retracted position to the intermediate position, the first and second jaw members are moved from the spaced-apart position to the approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween. The slots may further be configured such that, upon translation of the knife from the intermediate position to the extended position, the knife is extended at least partially between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween.

In still another embodiment, when the first and second jaw members are disposed in the approximated position, a pre-determined gap distance is defined therebetween.

In still yet another embodiment, a handle assembly is provided. The handle assembly is coupled to the end effector assembly and is selectively moveable between an initial position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position for translating the knife between the retracted position, the intermediate position, and the extended position, respectively. The handle assembly may further include one or more feedback features for providing audible, tactile, and/or visual feedback as to the position of the handle assembly.

Another embodiment of a forceps provided in accordance with the present disclosure includes a handle assembly including a moveable handle moveable between a first position, a second position, and a third position. The handle assembly has a shaft extending distally therefrom. An end effector assembly is disposed at a distal end of the shaft and includes first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation relative to one another. One or both of the jaw members is moveable with respect to the other from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. One or both of the jaw members further includes a pin extending therethrough. A knife bar is disposed within the shaft and is longitudinally translatable with respect to the first and second jaw members between a retracted position, an intermediate position, and an extended position upon movement of the moveable handle between the first position, the second position, and the third position, respectively. The knife bar includes a slot defined therein that is configured to receive the pin of the jaw member(s) therethrough such that, upon translation of the knife bar from the retracted position to the intermediate position, the first and second jaw members are moved to the approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween and such that, upon translation of the knife bar from the intermediate position to the extended position, the knife bar is extended between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween.

Yet another embodiment of a forceps provided in accordance with the present disclosure similarly includes a handle assembly having a moveable handle that is moveable between a first position, a second position, and a third position. A shaft extends distally from the handle assembly and includes an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation relative to one another. One or both of the jaw members is moveable with respect to the other from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. One or both of the jaw members includes a proximal flange having a slot defined therethrough. A knife bar is disposed within the shaft and is longitudinally translatable with respect to the first and second jaw members between a retracted position, an intermediate position, and an extended position upon movement of the moveable handle between the first position, the second position, and the third position. The knife bar includes a pin engaged therein and extending transversely relative thereto that is configured for engagement within the slot(s) of the jaw member(s) such that, upon translation of the knife bar from the retracted position to the intermediate position, the first and second jaw members are moved to the approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween and such that, upon translation of the knife bar from the intermediate position to the extended position, the knife bar is extended between the jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the subject instrument are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a forceps having an end effector assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a knife assembly for use with the end effector assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, perspective view of the distal end of the knife assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1 shown with parts separated;

FIG. 6A is a transverse, cross-sectional view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6B is a transverse, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an end effector assembly similar to the end effector assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6C is a transverse, cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of an end effector assembly similar to the end effector assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side, cross-sectional view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1 with the knife assembly in a first position;

FIG. 8 is a side, cross-sectional view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1 with the knife assembly in a second position;

FIG. 9 is a side, cross-sectional view of the end effector assembly of FIG. 1 with the knife assembly in a third position;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the forceps of FIG. 1 wherein a portion of the housing has been removed to show the internal components therein and wherein the handle is disposed in a first position;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the forceps of FIG. 1 wherein a portion of the housing has been removed to show the internal components therein and wherein the handle is disposed in a second position;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the forceps of FIG. 1 wherein a portion of the housing has been removed to show the internal components therein and wherein the handle is disposed in a third position; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an end effector assembly provided in accordance with the present disclosure and shown with parts separated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the presently disclosed surgical instrument are described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. As used herein, the term “distal” refers to the portion that is being described that is further from a user, while the term “proximal” refers to the portion that is being described that is closer to a user.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a forceps 10 is shown including a housing 20, a handle assembly 30, an actuator 70, a rotating assembly 80, and an end effector assembly 100. Forceps 10 further includes a shaft 12 having a distal end 14 configured to mechanically engage end effector assembly 100 and a proximal end 16 that mechanically engages housing 20. Forceps 10 also includes electrosurgical cable 310 that connects forceps 10 to a generator (not shown) or other suitable power source, although forceps 10 may alternatively be configured as a battery-powered instrument. Cable 310 has sufficient length to extend through shaft 12 in order to provide electrical energy to at least one of jaw members 110 and 120 of end effector assembly 100. Rotating assembly 80 is rotatable in either direction about a longitudinal axis “A-A” to rotate end effector assembly 100 about longitudinal axis “A-A” with respect to shaft 12.

Turning now to FIG. 2, end effector assembly 100 is shown attached at a distal end 14 of shaft 12. End effector assembly 100 includes a pair of opposing jaw members 110 and 120. End effector assembly 100 is designed as a unilateral assembly, i.e., jaw member 120 is fixed relative to the shaft 12 and jaw member 110 is moveable, e.g., pivotable, relative to jaw member 120 between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position. However, either, or both jaw members 110, 120 may be moveable with respect to the other between the spaced-apart and approximated positions.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, each jaw member 110, 120 includes an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface 112, 122, respectively, that is dimensioned to oppose the other. Accordingly, when jaw members 110, 120 are moved to the approximated position, tissue is grasped between sealing surfaces 112 122. With tissue grasped between sealing surfaces 112, 122, electrical energy may be supplied to one or both of jaw members 110, 120, such that the electrical energy is conducted between tissue sealing surfaces 112, 122 and through tissue grasped therebetween to effect a tissue seal. Actuator 70 (FIG. 1) may be selectively actuatable to supply electrical energy to jaw members 110, 120 or, alternatively, electrical energy may be automatically supplied to jaw members 110, 120, e.g., upon movement of jaw members 110, 120 to a position for grasping tissue.

As best shown in FIG. 5, and as mentioned above, jaw members 110, 120 are pivotably coupled to one another via pivot pin 103. More particularly, jaw member 110 includes a pair of proximal flanges 113, each having a first aperture 114 defined therethrough. Similarly, jaw member 120 includes a pair of proximal flanges 123, each having a first aperture 124 defined therethrough. Proximal flanges 123 of jaw member 120 are further spaced than proximal flanges 113 of jaw member 110, such that, during assembly, proximal flanges 113 of jaw member 110 are inserted between proximal flanges 123 of jaw member 120 to align first apertures 114 of proximal flanges 113 of jaw member 110 and first apertures 124 of proximal flanges 123 of jaw member 120. Pivot pin 103 is disposed through and engaged within first apertures 114 and 124 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively, to securely engage jaw members 110, 120 to one another and to permit jaw members 110, 120 to pivot relative to one another between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in conjunction with FIGS. 3-4, a knife assembly 140 is disposed within shaft 12. As shown in FIG. 5, knife assembly 140 includes a knife bar 142 and a knife blade 144 disposed at a distal end of knife bar 142. Knife bar 142 is engaged to a knife holder 146 at a proximal end thereof, as shown in FIG. 3. As will be described in detail below, knife holder 146 extends proximally through shaft 12 into housing 20 (FIG. 1), ultimately coupling to moveable handle 40 (FIG. 1) to permit a user to selectively control the longitudinal translation of knife holder 146 and, thus, knife bar 142.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3-5, knife bar 142 extends distally from knife holder 146 and is coupled to jaw member 110 such that, when knife bar 142 is translated distally, e.g., upon actuation of moveable handle 40 (FIG. 1), jaw member 110 is pivoted about pivot pin 103 and moved with respect to jaw member 120 from the spaced-apart position to a position to grasp tissue therebetween. Upon further distal translation of knife bar 142, e.g., upon further actuation of moveable handle 40 (FIG. 1), knife blade 144 is advanced distally from shaft 12 through jaw members 110, 120 to cut tissue grasped therebetween. Accordingly, a knife channel 115 is defined within one or both jaw members 110, 120 to permit reciprocation of knife blade 144 therethrough.

As mentioned above, knife bar 142 is coupled to jaw member 110. More particularly, proximal flanges 113 of jaw member 110 each include a second aperture 116 defined therethrough and offset below first apertures 114, while knife bar 142 includes a longitudinal slot 147 defined therein. During assembly, knife bar 142 is positioned between proximal flanges 113 of jaw member 110 and a pin 105 is inserted through second aperture 116 of one proximal flange 113 of jaw member 110, through slot 147 of knife bar 142, and through second aperture 116 of the other proximal flange 113 of jaw member 110. Pin 105 is secured within second apertures 116 of proximal flanges 113 on either side of knife bar 142 to securely couple knife bar 142 and jaw member 110 to one another. Alternatively, as will be described below with reference to FIG. 13, a drive pin 250 may be transversely engaged within knife bar 242, with flanges 213, 227 of jaw members 210, 220, respectively, defining slots 216, 226 therethrough.

As a result of the above-described coupling of knife bar 142 and jaw member 110, pin 105 is translated along slot 147 of knife bar 142 when knife bar 142 is translated longitudinally with respect to jaw member 110 due to the engagement of pin 105 within second apertures 116 of proximal flanges 113 of jaw member 110. Further, as pin 105 is translated along slot 147, the transverse position of pin 105 relative to longitudinal axis “A-A” is determined by the configuration of slot 147 of knife bar 142. For example, if pin 105 were translated along an upwardly sloping portion of slot 147, slot 147 would urge pin 105 upwardly, e.g., in a positive direction relative to longitudinal axis “A-A.” The upward urging of pin 105 would thereby urge jaw member 110 to rotate in a first direction about pivot pin 103 due to the offset position of pin 105 relative to pivot pin 103. On the other hand, if pin 105 were translated along a downwardly sloping portion of slot 147, pin 105 would be urged downwardly, e.g., in a negative direction relative to longitudinal axis “A-A,” thereby urging jaw member 110 to rotate in a second, opposite direction about pivot pin 103. Put more generally, the configuration of slot 147 of knife bar 142 controls the displacement of pin 105 relative to longitudinal axis “A-A” as knife bar 142 is translated relative to jaw member 110. The displacement of pin 105, e.g., the upward or downward movement of pin 105, as knife bar 142 is translated relative to jaw member 110, in turn, urges jaw member 110 to rotate about pivot pin 103 in a first or second direction, e.g., in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, depending on the direction of displacement.

Accordingly, slot 147 of knife bar 142 may be specifically configured to pivot jaw member 110 about pivot pin 103 and relative to jaw member 120 from the spaced-apart position to the approximated position, from the approximated position to the spaced-apart position, or to maintain the relative position of jaw members 110, 120, as knife bar 142 is translated relative to jaw members 110, 120. Further, slot 147 may define segments of varying configuration such that jaw members 110, 120 may be approximated (in a grasped position), maintained in position, and/or opened upon translation of knife bar 142 relative to jaw members 110, 120 in a single direction. As such, although only one particular configuration of slot 147 will be described below, slot 147 may be configured to achieve any desired combination of approximating, opening and maintaining the position of jaw members 110, 120 upon translation of knife bar 142 with respect to jaw members 110, 120.

Turning now to FIGS. 6A-6C, end effector assembly 100 is shown with jaw members 110, 120 disposed in the approximated or grasped position. As shown in FIG. 6A, jaw member 120 includes a “T”-shaped blade channel 115 b. “T”-shaped blade channel 115 b, in conjunction with blade channel 115 a of jaw member 110, is configured to permit reciprocation of a corresponding “T”-shaped blade (not shown) therethrough. Although not shown, jaw member 110 may similarly include a “T”-shaped blade channel such that blade channels 115 a, 115 b of jaw members 110, 120, respectively, cooperate to permit reciprocation of an “I”-shaped blade (not shown) therethrough. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6B, jaw member 110 and/or jaw member 120 may include an “L”-shaped blade channel for reciprocation of a correspondingly shaped blade (not shown) therethrough or, as shown in FIG. 6C, only one jaw member, e.g., jaw member 120, may include a blade channel 115 b defined therein. Put more generally, blade channels 115 a, 115 b of jaw members 110, 120, respectively, may be configured in any suitable fashion such that knife blade 144 is permitted to translate therethrough, although jaw member 110 and/or jaw member 120 need not include a blade channel defined therein.

Turning now to FIGS. 7-9, the use an operation of end effector assembly 100 is described. Initially, as shown in FIG. 7, knife bar 142 is disposed in a proximal-most position such that pin 105 is disposed at a distal end 147 a of slot 147 (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 7, this position corresponds to the spaced-apart position of jaw members 110, 120. Further, in this proximal-most position, knife blade 144 is disposed between flanges 113, 123 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively, and does not extend between jaw members 110, 120. Accordingly, knife blade 144 is not exposed when jaw members 110, 120 are in the spaced-apart position. In fact, as will become more apparent below, blade 144 is inhibited from extending between jaw members 110, 120 when jaw members 110, 120 are disposed in the spaced-apart position due to the configuration of slot 147 defined within knife bar 142. In use, with jaw members 110, 120 in the spaced-apart position, end effector assembly 100 is positioned such that tissue to be sealed and/or divided is positioned between jaw members 110, 120. Moreover, slot 147 may be sized to predetermine the relative distance that jaw members 110, 120 may open, e.g., slot 147 may act as an open stop or limiter for forceps 10.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, knife bar 142 is translated distally from the proximal-most position to an intermediate position. More particularly, as knife bar 142 is translated distally, pin 105 is translated along ramped portion 148 of slot 147. As pin 105 is translated along ramped portion 148 of slot 147, pin 105 is urged upwardly, thereby urging jaw member 110 to rotate about pivot pin 103 and with respect to jaw member 120 to the approximated, or grasped position. Knife bar 142 and/or pin 105 may include a locking feature (not shown), e.g., a mating recess/protrusion, or other suitable locking feature for releasably fixing knife bar 142 in this intermediate position. Further, handle assembly 30 (FIG. 1) may include one or more locking features (not shown) to releasably fix knife bar 142 in the proximal-most position or the intermediate position.

With continued reference to FIG. 8, as can be appreciated, the length and slope of ramped portion 148 of slot 147 determines the transverse displacement of pin 105 with respect to longitudinal axis “A-A,” that, in turn, determines the degree of rotation of jaw member 110 about pivot pin 103. Accordingly, slot 147 may be configured to achieve a desired gap distance “g” between sealing surfaces 112, 122 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively, when moved to the approximated position, e.g., about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches. For example, where ramped portion 148 of slot 147 defines a more gradual slope, or where ramped portion 148 of slot 147 defines a relatively short length, pin 105 is only displaced a relatively small distance with respect to longitudinal axis “A-A” upon translation along ramped portion 148 of slot 147. As such, jaw member 110 is rotated a relatively small degree about pivot pin 103, resulting in a relatively large gap distance “g” between sealing surfaces 112, 122 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively, in the approximated position. On the other hand, where ramped portion 148 of slot 147 defines a steeper slope, or a larger length, pin 105 is displaced a relatively large distance with respect to longitudinal axis “A-A” upon translation along ramped portion 148 of slot 147 such that jaw member 110 is rotated a greater degree with respect to pivot pin 103 to the approximated position to define a relatively small gap distance between sealing surfaces 112, 122 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively. Further, ramped portion 148 of slot 147 of knife bar 142 may include several incremental intermediate positions, e.g., ramped portion 148 may define a stepped, rather than a continuously-sloped configuration, corresponding to different gap distances “g” such that the gap distance between sealing surfaces 112, 122 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively, may be varied, e.g., depending on diameter and/or composition of tissue to be grasped and sealed, upon movement of jaw members 110, 120 to the approximated position.

In the intermediate position, as shown in FIG. 8, knife bar 142 has been translated distally from the proximal-most position. However, knife blade 144 remains disposed between flanges 113, 123 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively, and does not extend between jaw members 110, 120. Accordingly, knife bar 142 may be translated from the proximal-most position to the intermediate position to move jaw members 110, 120 from the spaced-apart position to the approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween without exposing blade 144 to tissue. In other words, the grasping of tissue, e.g., via approximation of jaw members 110, 120, is independent of the cutting of tissue, e.g., via advancement of knife blade 144 between jaw members 110, 120.

In use, with tissue grasped between jaw members 110, 120 and, more particularly, between sealing surfaces 112, 122 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively, electrosurgical energy may be supplied to sealing surfaces 112, 122 and conducted through tissue grasped therebetween to effect a tissue seal.

Turning now to FIG. 9, once tissue has been sealed, or where it is desired to simply grasp and divide tissue, knife bar 142 is advanced from the intermediate position to an extended position. As mentioned above, pivot pin 103 is offset above pin 105 such that knife bar 142 may pass under pivot pin 103 upon translation from the intermediate position to the extended position. In the extended position, as shown in FIG. 9, knife bar 142 is advanced between jaw members 110, 120 such that knife blade 144 dissects tissue grasped therebetween. More particularly, knife bar 142 is translated through knife channel 115 a and/or knife channel 115 b defined within jaw members 110, 120, respectively. As knife bar 142 is translated to the extended position, pin 105 is translated along slot 147 to a proximal end 147 b thereof. Slot 147 of knife bar 142 defines a longitudinal portion 149 centered on longitudinal axis “A-A” and extending proximally from ramped portion 148 such that, as knife bar 142 is translated distally from the intermediate position to the extended position, pin 105 is maintained on longitudinal axis “A-A” and, thus, jaw members 110, 120 are maintained in the approximated position.

Once tissue has been grasped, sealed and/or divided, as mentioned above, knife bar 142 may be translated proximally from the extended position, through the intermediate position, and back to the proximal-most position to move jaw members 110, 120 back to the spaced-apart position to release the sealed and divided tissue. Thereafter, end effector assembly 100 may be removed from the surgical site.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-12, in conjunction with FIG. 1, handle assembly 30, configured to selectively translate knife bar 142 between the proximal-most position, the intermediate position, and the extended position, will be described. Handle assembly 30 includes a fixed handle 50 and a moveable handle 40. Fixed handle 50 is integrally associated with housing 20 and moveable handle 40 is moveable relative to fixed handle 50. Moveable handle 40 includes a pair of flanges 42 that extend into housing 20 on either side of knife holder 146. Flanges 42 and, thus, moveable handle 40 are pivotably coupled to housing 20 via pivot pin 34. Flanges 42 abut knife sleeve 36 that is fixedly engaged to knife holder 146, as best shown in FIGS. 12-14. Further, a spring 38, or other biasing member, may be disposed about knife holder 146 within housing 20 to bias knife assembly 140 toward the proximal-most position, thereby biasing moveable handle 40 toward the initial position “P₀.”

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 10-12, moveable handle 40 is moveable with respect to fixed handle 50 between an initial position “P₀” (FIGS. 1 and 10), a first actuated position “P₁” (FIG. 11), and a second actuated position “P₂” (FIG. 12). Due to the abutting relationship between flanges 42 of moveable handle 40 and knife sleeve 36, moving handle 40 between the initial position “P₀,” first actuated position “P₁,” and second actuated position “P₂,” translates knife holder 146 and, thus, knife blade 142 between the proximal-most position (FIG. 7), the intermediate position (FIG. 8), and the extended position (FIG. 9), respectively. As will be described below, handle assembly 30 may include one or more feedback features e.g., latch member 44 of moveable handle 40, for providing audible, tactile, visual, or other feedback to the user as to the position of moveable handle 40 with respect to fixed handle 50. Further, handle assembly 40 may include a locking mechanism (not shown) for releasably retaining moveable handle 40 in the first actuated position “P₁” and/or the second actuated position “P₂.”

In the initial position “P₀,” jaw members 110, 120 are disposed in the spaced-apart position, as shown in FIG. 1. When moveable handle 40 is moved from the initial position to the first actuated position “P₁,” knife bar 142 is advanced distally such that jaw members 110, 120 are moved to the approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween (see FIG. 8). Upon further actuation of moveable handle 40, e.g., upon movement of moveable handle 40 from the first actuated position “P₁” to the second actuated position “P₂,” knife 142 is advanced further distally to extend between jaw members 110, 120 to cut tissue grasped therebetween.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, when moveable handle 40 is disposed in the initial position “P₀,” knife assembly 140 is disposed in the proximal-most position and, thus, jaw members 110, 120 are disposed in the spaced-apart position (see FIG. 7). Moveable handle 40, knife assembly 140 and jaw members 110, 120 are maintained in their respective positions under the bias of spring 38. Further, with moveable handle 40 disposed in the initial position “P₀,” latch member 44, that is securely engaged thereto, extends minimally into fixed handle 50.

As shown in FIG. 11, as moveable handle 40 is moved from the initial position “P₀,” to the first actuated position “P₁,” against the bias of spring 38, knife assembly 140 is advanced distally to the intermediate position (see FIG. 8), jaw member 110, 120 are moved to the approximated position (see FIG. 8) to grasp tissue therebetween, and latch member 44 is advanced further into fixed handle 50 such that protrusion 46 of latch member 44 engages first recess 47 defined within fixed handle 50. The engagement of protrusion 46 and first recess 47 may provide an audible “click,” alerting the user that moveable handle 40 is disposed in the first actuated position “P₁” and, thus, that jaw members 110, 120 are disposed in the approximated position. A locking mechanism (not shown) may also be provided to fix moveable handle in the first actuated position “P₁.” With jaw members 110, 120 disposed in the approximated position (FIG. 8) and grasping tissue therebetween, actuator 70 may be depressed to supply electrosurgical energy to sealing surfaces 112, 122 of jaw members 110, 120, respectively, to effect a tissue seal.

Once tissue has been adequately sealed, or where it is desired to only cut tissue, moveable handle 40 may be moved further against the bias of spring 38 from the first actuated position “P₁” to the second actuated position “P₂.” As mentioned above, moving moveable handle 40 to the second actuated position “P₂” advances knife blade 144 between jaw members 110, 120, e.g., through blade channels 115 a, 115 b (FIG. 6A), to cut tissue disposed therebetween. As moveable handle 40 is moved from the first actuated position “P₁” to the second actuated position “P₂,” latch member 44 is advanced further into fixed handle 50 such that protrusion 46 of latch member 44 engages second recess 49 defined within fixed handle 50. The engagement of protrusion 46 and second recess 49 may provide an audible “click,” alerting the user that moveable handle 40 is disposed in the second actuated position “P₂” and, thus, that knife blade 144 is extended through blade channels 115 a, 115 b of jaw members 110, 120, respectively. Thereafter, moveable handle 40 may be released, or otherwise returned to the initial position “P₀,” allowing knife assembly 140 to return to the proximal-most position and, thus, allowing jaw members 110, 120 to return to the spaced-apart position.

Handle assembly 30 may be configured as a two-step mechanism, e.g., moveable handle 40 may be configured to first move from the initial position “P₀” to the first actuated position “P₁” and then, upon the application of additional force, move from the first actuated position “P₁” to the second actuated position “P₂”, or, alternatively, may be configured as a continuous, single stroke mechanism, e.g., moveable handle 40 is moved from the initial position “F₀” through the first actuated position “P₁” for grasping and or sealing tissue and to the second actuated position “P₂” for cutting tissue. Other configurations of handle assembly 30 are also contemplated, so long as handle assembly 30 is configured to move jaw member 110, 120 between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position, and to advance knife blade 144 therebetween.

As can be appreciated from the above, handle assembly 30 and knife assembly 140 cooperate with end effector assembly 100 to move jaw members 110, 120 between the spaced-apart and approximated positions and to advance knife blade 144 therebetween with minimal components. However, while the same mechanism is used to move jaw members 110, 120 between the spaced-apart and approximated positions to grasp (and seal) tissue and to advance knife blade 144 between jaw members 110, 120 to cut tissue, the grasping/sealing and cutting functions remain independent of one another. In other words, end effector assembly 100 may be used for grasping and sealing tissue, for grasping and cutting tissue, or for grasping, sealing, and cutting tissue.

Referring now to FIG. 13, another embodiment of an end effector assembly configured for use with forceps 10 (FIG. 1) provided in accordance with the present disclosure is shown generally identified by reference numeral 200. Similar to end effector assembly 100 (FIGS. 1-12), end effector assembly 200 includes a pair of opposing jaw members 210 and 220 each having an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface 212, 222 disposed on an opposed surface thereof. Jaw members 210, 220 are movable relative to one another from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position for grasping and sealing tissue disposed therebetween. End effector assembly 200 is designed as a bilateral assembly, i.e., both jaw members 210 and 220 are movable relative to one another, although end effector assembly 200 may alternatively be configured as a unilateral assembly, i.e., wherein one of jaw members 210, 220 is fixed in position.

With continued reference to FIG. 13, jaw members 210, 220 are pivotably coupled to one another via pivot pin 203. More particularly, each jaw member includes a proximal flange 213, 223, each of which defines an aperture 214, 224 therethrough that is configured to receive pivot pin 203 therethrough. Flanges 213, 223 of jaw members 210, 220, respectively, each further include a slot 216, 226 defined therethrough. Each slot 216, 226 includes an angled portion 217, 227, respectively, and a longitudinal portion 218, 228 that is substantially aligned with respective apertures 213, 223 relative to the longitudinal axis of end effector assembly 200.

A knife assembly 240, similar to knife assembly 140 (FIG. 5), is configured for positioning within shaft 12 (FIG. 1) and includes a knife bar 242 and a knife blade 244 disposed at a distal end of knife bar 242. Knife bar 242 includes a drive pin 250 disposed therethrough in transverse relation relative to knife bar 242. Drive pin 250 is engaged within each of slots 216, 226 of jaws 210, 220, respectively, such that, when knife bar 242 is translated distally, e.g., upon actuation of moveable handle 40 (FIG. 1), jaw members 210, 220 are pivoted about pivot pin 203 and relative to one another from the spaced-apart position to an approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween. More specifically, drive pin 250 is translated through angled portions 217, 227 of slots 216, 226, respectively, such that jaw members 210, 220 are brought into approximation with one another.

Upon further distal translation of knife bar 242, e.g., upon further actuation of moveable handle 40 (FIG. 1), knife blade 244 is advanced distally through knife channel(s) 215 of jaw member 210 and/or jaw member 220 to cut tissue grasped therebetween. More specifically, drive pin 250 is translated through longitudinal portions 218, 228 of slots 216, 226 to translate knife blade 244 longitudinally relative to jaw members 210, 220, respectively. As can be appreciated, proximal translation of knife bar 242, e.g., upon release, or return of moveable handle 40 (FIG. 1), returns knife blade 244 proximally and, ultimately, returns jaw members 210, 220 to the spaced-apart position.

The use, operation, and additional features of end effector assembly 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-12 apply similarly to end effector assembly 200 and, thus, will not be repeated here for purposes of brevity.

From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications can also be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the same. While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto. 

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A forceps, comprising: first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation relative to one another, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable with respect to the other from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween; and a knife bar movable with respect to the first and second jaw members between a retracted position, wherein the knife bar is positioned proximally of the first and second jaw members, an intermediate position wherein the knife bar is positioned proximally of the first and second jaw members, and an extended position, wherein the knife bar extends between the first and second jaw members, the knife bar coupled to at least one of the first and second jaw members such that movement of the knife bar from the retracted position to the intermediate position moves the first and second jaw members from the spaced-apart position to the approximated position, thereby ensuring that the first and second jaw members are disposed in the approximated position prior to movement of the knife bar from the intermediate position to the extended position.
 22. The forceps according to claim 21, wherein each of the first and second jaw members includes an opposed electrically conductive surface adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to communicate energy to tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members.
 23. The forceps according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members includes a knife channel defined therein, the at least one knife channel configured to permit movement of the knife bar therethrough upon movement of the knife bar between the intermediate and extended positions.
 24. The forceps according to claim 23, wherein the at least one knife channel defines a T-shaped or an L-shaped longitudinal cross-sectional configuration.
 25. The forceps according to claim 24, wherein the knife bar defines a longitudinal cross-sectional configuration complementary to the longitudinal cross-sectional configuration of the at least one knife channel.
 26. The forceps according to claim 21, wherein the knife bar is coupled to at least one of the first and second jaw members via a pin-slot engagement.
 27. The forceps according to claim 21, wherein, when in the approximated position, the first and second jaw members define a pre-determined gap distance therebetween.
 28. The forceps according to claim 21, further comprising a handle assembly including a movable handle operably coupled to the knife bar, the movable handle selectively moveable between an initial position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position for moving the knife bar between the retracted position, the intermediate position, and the extended position, respectively.
 29. The forceps according to claim 28, wherein the handle assembly includes at least one feedback feature for providing feedback as to a position of the movable handle.
 30. A forceps, comprising: first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation relative to one another, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable with respect to the other from a spaced-apart position to a plurality of approximated positions for grasping tissue therebetween, the first and second jaw members defining a different gap distance therebetween in each of the plurality of approximated positions; and a knife bar movable with respect to the first and second jaw members between a retracted position, a plurality of intermediate positions, and an extended position, the knife bar coupled to at least one of the first and second jaw members such that movement of the knife bar from the retracted position to one of the plurality of intermediate positions moves the first and second jaw members from the spaced-apart position to one of the approximated positions corresponding to the one of the plurality of intermediate positions of the knife bar, and such that movement of the knife bar from the one of the plurality of intermediate positions to the extended position moves the knife bar between the first and second jaw members to distal ends thereof to cut tissue grasped therebetween.
 31. The forceps according to claim 30, the knife bar is coupled to at least one of the first and second jaw members via a pin-slot engagement.
 32. The forceps according to claim 30, wherein each of the first and second jaw members includes an opposed electrically conductive surface adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to communicate energy to tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members.
 33. The forceps according to claim 30, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members includes a knife channel defined therein, the at least one knife channel configured to permit reciprocation of the knife bar therethrough upon movement of the knife bar from the one of the plurality of intermediate positions to the extended position.
 34. The forceps according to claim 30, further comprising a handle assembly including a movable handle operably coupled to the knife bar, the movable handle selectively moveable between an initial position, a plurality of first actuated positions, and a second actuated position for moving the knife bar between the retracted position, the plurality of intermediate positions, and the extended position, respectively.
 35. The forceps according to claim 34, wherein the handle assembly includes at least one feedback feature for providing feedback as to a position of the movable handle.
 36. A forceps, comprising: first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation relative to one another, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable with respect to the other from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween; and a knife bar movable with respect to the first and second jaw members between a retracted position, an intermediate position, and an extended position, the knife bar coupled to at least one of the first and second jaw members via a pin and slot engagement, the slot defining a ramped portion and a longitudinal portion, wherein movement of the knife bar from the retracted position to the intermediate position moves the pin along the ramped portion of the slot to move the first and second jaw members from the spaced-apart position to the approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween and wherein movement of the knife bar from the intermediate position to the extended position moves the pin along the longitudinal portion of the slot to extend the knife bar at least partially between the first and second jaw members to cut tissue grasped therebetween.
 37. The forceps according to claim 36, wherein the knife bar includes the pin engaged therewith and extending transversely relative thereto, and wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members defines the slot therein.
 38. The forceps according to claim 36, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members includes the pin engaged therewith and extending transversely relative thereto, and wherein the knife bar defines the slot therein.
 39. The forceps according to claim 36, wherein each of the first and second jaw members includes an opposed electrically conductive surface adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to communicate energy to tissue grasped between the jaw members.
 40. The forceps according to claim 36, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members includes a knife channel defined therein, the at least one knife channel configured to permit reciprocation of the knife bar therethrough upon movement of the knife bar from the intermediate position to the extended position. 